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| Sunday, 7 September 2003 |
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Letters |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Please forward your letters to [email protected] in plain text format within the e-mail message, since as a policy we do not open any attachments.
Man moves wild elephants towards extinction Elephants don't have votes but humans do. How many times we have seen these articles in the media? Why have people concerned not seen these articles? You can wake up people who really sleep, but you would not be able to wake up people who are pretending to sleep. Ever greedy and cunning homosapians are eager for breeding of votes only. They do not worry about the consequences of plans they are hatching in order to attract voters in a magnified fashion and the peasants who are also equally eager to grab the opportunity just falls prey to the cunning of the politicians in the long run. This is the reaction of my natural instincts when I learnt from print and electronic media about a dam being built across the Menik Ganga to develop Yala National Parks' portion into an agricultural land. As a consultant wildlife veterinarian I feel that it is an absurd decision to build a dam across the Menik Ganga as it would definitely lead to human-elephant conflicts. Elephants do not require many fragmented pockets of jungles but they need continuous landscape of jungles for their survival. Therefore let us do away with the policies of building dams and becoming mad for fame, very much unlike our ancestral kings who not only built dams but also successfully did the conservation as well for it to be inherited by the present generation. I also appeal to the authorities to make all people concerned to honour the laws of national parks, sanctuaries, and strict reserves word for word. I would also recommend strongly that all fragmented pockets of jungles be connected through corridors and resettling those people should reactivate those corridors inactivated by encroachment and those corridors be further widened and should be declared strict reserves. Ancient dams should be renovated, and fallow lands all over the country have to be utilised to those who are being evacuated to activate corridors for the elephants. It is not the wild elephants that are walking towards their extinction but we the homosapians move wild elephants' towards extinction by various manipulative ways. Therefore let us all realise our responsibility to pass what we inherited from the past to next generations. Dr. S. Mahadeva, BVSC (SL), Bank run by professionals? a response With reference to the letter by G.H.I. de Zoysa on the above subject in the Sunday Observer of June 15, I wholeheartedly agree with the writer. I too received a prospectus of the Benevolent Society of the Organisation of Professional Association which as the writer states is a part and parcel of the Organisation of Professional Associations (OPA). In fact this prospectus was sent to several of my friends. As the BSOPA was also run by professionals who are also members of the OPA, I too joined this society. All the benefits mentioned by the writer were duly mentioned in the prospectus. Naturally I too as a professional thought it my duty to join this Society and while helping a society run by fellow professionals, to reap the attractive benefits mentioned in the prospectus. The prospectus and the subsequent circulars were sent by the Secretary cum Treasurer who stated his designation as an Attorney at Law. However, later I found that my queries were not answered even though I sent self addressed envelopes duly stamped. According to Mr. de Zoysa the President Elect is trying his best to grant us redress. On making inquiries I found that the former Secretary is withholding all documents from the committee. I hope that legal action would be taken against all who are guilty of mismanagement. We do not mind legal expenses being recovered from our contributions. We wish justice to be done. I fully agree with the writer when he queries as to who could be trusted when people who call themselves professionals act in this manner. P.R.T.B. Ratnayake FSI, Not long ago the CMOH Colombo Municipality commenced a Dengue control programme with WHO support. Householders and even school authorities were notified if Aedes aegypti breeding places were detected. At an International Conference on Mosquito Control held in Martinique in February/March 2000, on Controlling Aedes aegypti and general mosquito control the following statement and recommendations were made; 'For decades, the countries affected by dengue fever have been routinely controlling Aedes aegypti. This control has been done mainly by applying insecticides to larval habitats, destroying unwanted containers and educating the population. During epidemics, this has been complemented by insecticide space-spraying against adult mosquitoes. In recent years no one has been able to clearly demonstrate that the use of these specific measures prevents or limits dengue epidemics efficiently and on a long term basis, despite the fact that considerable sums have been invested in the control of dengue vectors. Larval control is hampered by the multiplicity and inaccessibility of breeding sites, constantly replenished by man. In most cases, space - spraying only has a transient and limited impact on adult mosquitoes and on transmission of the virus. Finally, health education has not had the desired effect. Trying to activate the community only has a limited response and is more effective when there are epidemics, when it is usually too late to have any real impact on transmission. This situation, even if there are some exceptions, reflects the reality of the problem confronting the affected countries, whatever their level of economic development. Everyone recognises that effective, lasting control of Aedes aegypti should be based on a multi-sectoral approach. Such control means, inter alia, the effective participation of the community. However this participation cannot be obtained if, at the same time, the community continues, despite its efforts, to be bitten by other species of nuisance mosquitoes and in particular by the urban mosquito (Culex) which is omnipresent and abundant in most places. Aedes aegypti is rarely perceived to be a nuisance and its disappearance often passes unnoticed. Therefore, only control aimed both at vector mosquitoes and at nuisance mosquitoes is likely to receive the substantial and sustained support of the community, whether they are private individuals or their political representatives. The above statement has been quoted from the WHO Weekly Epidemiological Record of 26 May 2000. Due to limitation of space only reports and recommendations of very important meetings are published in this weekly. It is therefore very strange that the CMC and those who fund these activities do not appear to have accepted the recommendations of international experts who have had considerable experience in tackling dengue epidemics. Or have they not read the relevant literature? Couldn't the funds allocated for this activity be put to better use? Anyway WHO cares, as long as the funds are spent. A public health , consultant. I refer to the survey on television preferences of children conducted by a team of media academics and the informative article by Neomie Kodikara in the Sunday Observer of July 20. I remember many decades ago long before television dominated this country, a similar survey was conducted by the then Ministry of Information. The committee appointed comprised some eminent members of the clergy and leading educationists. Those were the days of the second world war, as I remember, the South East Asia Command (SEAC) Radio, (Broadcasting Corporation), imported from some foreign artistes to entertain troops who were mostly Englishmen, Canadians, Australians, Indians etc. Artistes mostly from Britain and the U.S. seemed to be broadcasting certain programmes that were susceptible to eastern values. That was why this committee was appointed to probe these programmes and the findings were reported to the authorities. As a schoolboy, I remember, a certain artiste (vocalist whose name I don't want to mention, since he is no more) was deported the following day, by the Chief of the South East Asia Command. Sir Geoffrey Layton who was the Commander-in-Chief in Ceylon at the time. That was how the colonial rulers respected our values then. I wonder whether this high-powered committee's recommendations could be implemented at all, going by the puerile programmes including some debasing teledramas that are now being telecast through all television channels. I remember, the good work done by the Fort, YMCA in the late forties, when my father used to take me to see those great films like Pare Lorenz's "The Plough that Broke the Plains", "Film and Reality", Battleship Potenkin, "Italian Strawhat", "The Last Laugh" conducted by the YMCA Film Forum, which I think was the forerunner to the Colombo Film Society, Cinema Sixteen, and University Film Societies. I think our don of the Sinhala Cinema Dr. Lester James Peries will stand testimony. The Colombo Film Society did serve a good cause and celebrates like the late C. O. de Silva, Jhonny Carwallio, (courtesy Lionel Wendt Memorial Fund) S. Mahalingam, Sali Parakrama, Sita Parakrama and the like, who are no more, should be remembered with admiration. I feel that the State should intervene in this instance. Elmo Fernando, Problems caused by History and mathematics This is with reference to the article titled 'Peace with Honour' which appeared in the Sunday Observer on August 8. If mankind wants to live in peace, there are two "subjects" which should be thrown out of this universe, the first one is 'history' and the next one is 'mathematics'. Problems start from history and end in mathematics. History kindles the problems and mathematics finishes the mankind, with the use of modern weapons. As humans are part and parcel of this universe, history works like a cane stick and like a 'cintamani' (which means a gem, from which everybody can get whatever they wants to secure). Man has performed incredible role in the other fields such as music, fine-art, architecture, agriculture, sculpture and so on. But as far as history is concerned, it is nothing but study of killing and bloodshed. Hence, in true sense mankind cannot be proud of just quoting historical events. Take the 20th century, it is the violent century mankind has ever witnessed, still the situation endures. Mathematics, all scientific development and inventions are based on numbers, calculations, sums etc., which ultimately enables humans to kill his fellow beings by manufacturing deadly weapons even within a span of 45 minutes. All beings and species right from the amoeba to elephant have settled down in the earth and have started living except humans. Still this species has not yet accommodated itself on this beautiful earth. Let us stop killing each other and start living like our fellow beings and thrive in spiritual endeavour. Bhavatu Sabha Mangalam. Bhikkhu Bodhipala, Unethical conversions by Christians It is sad that Christians are unjustly accused of converting non-Christians to Christianity unethically. Conversion to Christianity is not the work of man but of God. It is only one who truly believes in Jesus and accepts Him as his or her personal Saviour that will become a Christian. "Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God - children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God." (John 1: 12,13). Conversion to Christianity is spiritual and, not mental or physical. Jesus said you must be born again. (John 1:7) That is spiritual birth. A Christian knows that all have sinned and are condemned to an eternal hell. But a Christian also knows that anyone who believes in Jesus and accepts Him as one's own personal Saviour will receive forgiveness of sin and will not have to suffer in hell. He will receive eternal life and be taken at death by God to be in Heaven with Him forever. Could one who knows these facts be without telling the good news of salvation to others who do not know it, but are therefore heading for an eternal hell ? Could they be without trying to persuade such to accept the salvation offered to them freely through belief in Jesus? Knowing these facts, would anyone want to keep them to one's self without telling others and trying to persuade them to accept the salvation offered to them freely through belief in Jesus Christ. Christians are also commanded by God to tell others. "Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." (Matthew 28:19) To do this it is not necessary to bribe anyone with help of any kind or a gift. Since salvation is a work of God, all that Christian has to do, is to tell others of God's love for them and of the blessings they themselves have received from Him including salvation. Then why do Christians help others or give gifts to non-Christians ? The love of God constrains them to share with others the blessings they receive from Him. God is love and he bestows His love to others through Christians. God's love creates in Christians a love for others which is the motivating power in them for helping others. Christians must love their enemies and do good to them. If we love God we must also love our brethren, friend or foe. From the above facts, is it not abundantly clear that Christians are not helping people in order to convert them, but are expressing their love to God and man ? Non-Christians seeing the love of God projected through the lives of Christians, accept the God whom the Christians love and believe in. This surely is no fault of the Christians. Christians also try to persuade non-Christians to accept Jesus as their Saviour by preaching or personal conversation, without using any unethical means. People also begin to believe in Jesus as a result of receiving healing and other blessings through the power of God or after seeing others receive such blessings. Is this unethical? Tiddy Senapatiratne, There is "Goenka's Vipassana", "Bedi's Vipassana", "Siriwardane's Vipassana", etc. So many "vipassana" meditations, that the original Vipassana, discovered only by Buddha, when he attained Enlightenment, is shelved, and by most of the plagiarists, hoped to be pushed into oblivion. Which, of course, is an impossibility, so long as Buddha's teaching exists. Anything that smacks of Buddhism is anathema to these people, who will not want to be accused of turning their back on their own unsatisfactory religions, to sneak into a Buddhist practice, as they know what Buddha taught goes counter to their beliefs. Can these people who have no faith in Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha, who are disinterested in Buddha's teachings (the Pali Tripitaka is now available in translation) who have no idea at all of the Four Noble Truths: suffering, its cause, its cessation and the Noble Eightfold Path leading to its cessation, attain Nibbana, which is the target of the Buddha's vipassana meditation ? The first step of the Noble Eightfold Path is Right Understanding, and it would be better for these practitioners to give up their arrogant pride which prevents them from acknowledging the greatness of the Buddha, who discovered Vipassana, and first try to learn what he taught. It is the Seventh Step of the Noble Eight-fold Path, Samma Sati (Right Mindfulness) that incorporates vipassana - seeing body, feeling, mental formations and consciousness - as they truly are. No one should forget that the Buddha has expressly stated that separated from his Noble Eightfold Path, there is no attainment of Nibbana, which is the aim of his vipassana meditation. What these people are doing is like trying to sew a dress and frantically learning how to stitch one sleeve of it only, leaving the rest aside. How can Buddhists remain so unconcerned about every Tom, Dick and Harry trying to break bits and pieces of the Buddha Dhamma to claim that portion as their own, mostly to twist and degrade its true meaning ? Buddhists should be vigilant and implacable and make sure, by whatever means, that it does not happen. What is being tampered with is their most precious possession. Prema Ranawaka-Das, |
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